The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has tabled a multi-year proposal to the government for discussion and it envisages a 39.5% salary increase for teachers for 2024.
The union and the Ministry of Education met on Thursday for a new round of talks and a joint statement after the meeting said that it was “productive and constructive” and both parties were “satisfied with the outcome”. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 25th.
The GTU’s proposed memorandum of agreement highlights the terms and conditions of employment for teachers and teacher educators for 2024 to 2026 and addresses various issues affecting teachers, including salaries, non-salaried benefits, duty-free concessions, scholarships, and welfare matters.
According to the proposal, teachers and teacher educators would receive a salary increase of 39.5% for 2024, followed by 30% increases in 2025 and 2026. Teachers from salary scale TS4 to TS19 would receive a 35% increase in 2024, followed by 30% increases in the subsequent years. The proposed memorandum also stipulates that if public servants receive a higher percentage increase, teachers would benefit from the difference.
Further, the proposal outlines an additional performance-based incentive of 2% per annum, of the total Teachers’ Wage Bill, to be paid to eligible teachers with effect from January 1.
Other benefits for teachers and teacher educators outlined in the proposed memorandum include an annual health/risk allowance of $25,000, a monthly internet/mobile data allowance of $10,000, a termly school transportation grant of $150,000 (coastland) or $300,000 (hinterland/riverain), and a monthly honorarium of $15,000 for headteachers/principals to conduct business on behalf of their institutions.
Non-taxable monthly credential allowances for teachers who have improved their qualifications, an annual clothing allowance of $40,000, a double salary payment in April each year, and Duty-Free Concessions are also outlined in the proposal.
Under the proposed MoA, teachers who are appointed as headteachers/principals or deputy principals/vice principals would also be granted duty-free concessions for motor vehicles up to 2000cc as well as all-terrain vehicles and outboard engines up to100 HP. The union proposes that these concessions be granted immediately upon appointment and three years before retirement age.
Further, the GTU proposes that the government provide scholarships to trained teachers to pursue postgraduate degrees at the University of Guyana. One hundred scholarships will be available per year, tenable at the University of Guyana.
With regard to hinterland benefits, the MoA proposes that teachers serving in the interior and hinterland/riverain areas receive various benefits, including one return transportation fare per term, a Station and Hardlying Allowance of $10,000, two years instead of five years to serve CPCE [Cyril Potter College of Education] contracts, and three points for promotional purposes after serving four consecutive years.
The proposed agreement also includes various other provisions, such as a revolving fund committee to provide financial assistance to teachers, the return of senior appointments, disciplinary, and promotional responsibilities to the Teaching Service Commission, the implementation of the agreed ratio of students to teachers in all schools, the release of union officers to perform union duties, the provision of substitute teachers in schools where teachers proceed on maternity leave or other long leave as well as paternity leave for male teachers.
The revision of the salary scale, meetings between the GTU and MoE, gratuity payments for teachers, marking of SBA examinations, grants for schools, housing provisions for teachers, and tax-free treatment of allowances, make up the remainder of the proposed agreement.
On July 5th, both the GTU and the ministry announced that the conciliation process had ended with the two sides agreeing to move forward with multi-year talks from 2024 onwards. This announcement prompted questions about the dramatic shift in position by the teachers’ union, but when questioned, GTU president Mark Lyte explained that the members asked for the period to be accepted and for a new proposal to be presented. The latter, Lyte said, was done and the proposed memorandum of agreement was released by him on Thursday.
The talks on Thursday were preceded by a gruelling strike of more than 70 days and resort to the court.
